All purpose slipper



1962 L. KRAMER 3,015,170

ALL PURPOSE SLIPPER Filed June 28, 1960 IN VEN TOR. Z fW/S K/PAME/Q M AW ATTOK/VE X United States Patent 3,015,170 ALL PURPOSE SLIPPER Lewis Kramer, 6723 N. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed June 28, 1960, Ser. No. 39,300 6 Claims. (Cl. 36-9) The present invention relates to an all purpose slipper, and more particularly to a stretch-type slipper capable of being worn outdoors.

It has been found that a stretch-type slipper has many advantages over other types of slippers. A stretch-type slipper will fit various size feet so that the slipper need only be made in a few standard sizes to cover the complete range of sizes of feet. A stretch-type slipper is most desirable for children since it permits a longer use of the slipper as the childs feet grow. A stretch-type slipper occupies a minimum amount of space for storage and is capable of being washed.

It is desirable to have a slipper for wearing around the house which is soft and comfortable. It is often necessary to go outdoors, therefore the slipper should be provided with a sole which permits the slipper to be worn outdoors. The slipper should cover the entire foot for warmth, should snugly fit the foot to hold the slipper on the foot, and should have a sole capable of offering protection to the sole of the user. The appearance of the slipper both on and off the foot is a feature which must be incorporated into the slipper while retaining the above-mentioned desirable characteristics.

In addition, the slipper should be made with a body from a material capable of breathing so as to prevent undue perspiring of the feet of the user.

It is an object of the'present invention to provide a novel all purpose slipper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel stretch-type slipper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stretch-type slipper capable of being worn indoors and outdoors.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel stretch-type slipper which is light in weight, soft, made from a material capable of breathing, maintains the users feet warm, and has a sole capable of protecting the sole of the foot of the user.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the slipper of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the slipper of the present invention taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG- URE 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 the slipper of the present invention designated generally as 10.

The slipper 10 comprises a body 12 and a sole 14. As seen more clearly in FIGURE 1, the body 12 comprises a single piece of knitted fabric with the ends thereof joined together at the seam 16. That portion of the body 12 adjacent the seam 16 may be referred to as the toe portion.

The fabric from which the body 12 is made, is provided with longitudinally extending spaced elastomeric threads 18. If the body 12 is made from a cloth such as terry cloth, the elastomeric threads 18 may be knitted into the outermost surface of the terry cloth fabric. The loose ends on the outermost surface of the terry cloth substantially conceal the elastomeric threads 18. If the body ice 12 is made from a knit-ted fabric which is substantially smooth on its outermost surface, the elastomeric threads 18 will be knitted into the innermost surface of the fabric. By the terminology outermost surface is meant that surface which is visible when the slipper 10 is being worn by the user. By the terminology innermost surface is meant that surface of the slipper which is juxtaposed to the skin on the feet of the user.

An elastic band 20 is fixedly secured to the uppermost edge of the body 12 by lines of stitching 22. The free ends of the elastic band 20 are joined together by the stitching 24 so as to form a seam coextensive with seam 16. A decoration element 26 is stitched to the body 12 at the seam 16 as shown in FIGURE 1. The decoration element 26 is shown as being a bow. However, the decoration element may take the form of a ball, a bell, etc.

The sole 14 is of a shape to cover the entire bottom of a foot. As seen more clearly in HGURE 2, the sole 14 is laminar in structure. The sole 14 comprises a layer 28 of open-cell foam polymeric material. Preferably, the layer 28 is formed of polyurethane foam material. A layer 30 of knitted fabric is provided on the uppermost surface of the layer 28 and a layer 32 of synthetic resin is provided on the lowermost surface of the layer 28. The layers 28, 30, and 32 are joined together so as to form a laminated sole 14.

The layers 28, 30. and 32 may be joined together so as to form a laminated sole 14 by cementing or fusion. Preferably, the layers 28, 30, and 32 are fused together. Fusion of the layer is simpler, more economical, and more practical. Cementing of the layers has been found to be difficult because of the open-cell structure of the layer 28. g 4

The layer 32 of synthetic resin should be flexible and have good wear resistance. The layer of synthetic resin 32 enables the slipper 10 to be worn outdoors as well as indoors. Preferably, the layer 32 of synthetic resin is made from a rubberized plastic material. The layer 28 has a thickness of approximately five times the thickness of the layer 32.

The lowermost edge of the body 12 is folded over and joined to the edge of the sole 14 by a line of overlooked stitching 34. The stitching 34 extends through the layers 28, 30, 32 and the overlapped edge of the body 12. In this manner, the line of stitching 34 is disposed within the slipper 10.

In use of the slipper 10 of the present invention, the elastic band 20 permits stretching of the top edge of the body 12 to permit a foot to be easily inserted into the slipper 10. When the foot is inserted into the slipper 10, the body 12 and the sole 14 will stretch longitudinally to correspond with the size of the foot. Since the body 12 is made from a knitted material, the. body 12 is capable of stretching longitudinally. Since the layers 28, 30, and 32 are made from a flexible stretchable material, the sole 14 is capable of being stretched longitudinally. The elasticity of the band 20 holds the upper edge of the body 12 snugly around the foot below the ankle. In this manner, a slipper 10 will not slide off a foot. When the slipper 10 is removed from a foot, the elastic band 20, the elastomeric threads 18 and the elasticity of the sole 14 will return the slipper 10 to its normal size.

Since the sole 14 includes a layer of open-cell foam polymeric material, the sole 14 does not add materially to the weight of the slipper 10. Thus, the slipper 10 is light in weight and stretches for self-accommodation to a foot. Since the body of the slipper 10 is made from a knitted material, the slipper 10 keeps the foot warm and enables a breathing action to take place so as to prevent excess perspiring of the foot. Since the sole 14 is pro- 3 r videdwith alayer 32 of rubberized material, the slipper 10 may be worn outdoors as well as indoors.

As pointed out above, the layer 28 is preferably made from polyurethane foam material. However, other lightweight open-cell foam materials may be substituted therefor. Since the layer 28 of foam material is substantially thicker than the layers 30 and 32, the slipper 10 is provided with a sOle 14 having a cushioning means. i

It will be noted that the sole 14 is made laminar in structure by fusion between the layers 28, 30, and'32. The fused laminated structure of the sole 14 prevents the layer 30 from forming crinkles, ridges and buckling which thereby render a slipper 10 uncomfortable. Further, the fused laminated structure of the sole 14 facilitates the rapid assembly of the slipper 10 since the layers 28, 30, and 32 need not be'aligned as the stitching 34 is being' applied. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or'essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the fore'goin'g specification as indicating the scope ofthe invention;

l. A slipper comprising aknitted body stitched along one edge of' said body tothe edge of a laminated sole," said sole comprising a layer of open-cell fo'arn material, a layer of knitted'fabric on the uppermost surface ofsaid sole," a layer of rubberized material on thebottorn sur face of said sole, said layers being fused together, -aiid the thickness of said foam material being substantially greater than the thickness of said rubberized materiall 2. In a slipper in accordance with claim'l whereifi said foam material is foain polyurethane.

3. A slipper in accordance with claim 1 wherein said layer of rubberized material is a layer of synthetic resin.

4. A slipper comprising a sole having a relatively fiat layer of foam material covered on its uppermost surface by a layer of knitted material, said layer of foam material. being covered omits-lowermost surface bya l ayer'of rubberized material, said layers being fused together, the thicknessof said foam material being greate'r'th'an the thickness of said rubberizedmaterial, said sole being of a shape corresponding to the bottom of a foot, a body of knitted material extending over said sole, said body having a toe portio'n'cover'irtgthe front of said sole and a heel p'ortio'n around 'theback of said sole, the upper edge of said body being stitched to a flat elastic band, and the lower edge of said body being overlapped, said overlapped edge being stitched to the periphery of said sole by a 'line of stitching.

' 5'. A'slipper in accordance with claim 4 wherein said body is a single piece ofknitted material joined along a seam at the toe portion, and said foam material being foam polyurethane.

6. A slipper in accordance with claim 5 including spaced elasto'meric threads extending longitudinally of said body, said ela'stom'eric threads being knitted into the outermost surface of 1 said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES P-ATENTS' 1,066,59 Fulton any 8, 1913 2,001,293 Wilson May 14, 1935 2,121,678 Armor June 21, 1933 2,323,5 Nuge nt July 6, 19.43 2,334, 59 Arsdale etal. No'v.'16, 1 943 2 34 86 H M y 30 44 2,533, 73 Donahue Jan. 16, 1951 2,550,334- Dahllfx'ouser' .4... Apr. 24, 1951 2,679,117 need May 25, 1954 2,724,195 Luchs Nov. 22,1955 2,798,311 Scholl July 9, 1957 2,845,723 Arnold Aug. 5, 1958 2,934,839 Servin May 3, 1960 

1. A SLIPPER COMPRISING A KNITTED BODY STITCHED ALONG ONE EDGE OF SAID BODY TO THE EDGE OF A LAMINATED SOLE, SAID SOLE COMPRISING A LAYER OF OPEN-CELL FOAM MATERIAL, A LAYER OF KNITTED FABRIC ON THE UPPERMOST SURFACE OF SAID SOLE, A LAYER OF RUBBERIZED MATERIAL ON THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF SDAID SOLE, SAID LAYERS BEING FUSED TOGETHER, AND THE THICKNESS OF SAID FOAM MATERIAL BEING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE THICKNESS OF SAID RUBBERIZED MATERIAL. 